Test drive Toyota Land Cruiser 150: Tough character
Toyota underwent a partial modernization of the Land Cruiser. By its very nature, the model remains a representative of an old-school SUV, which brings it serious off-road advantages and some expected disadvantages on asphalt.
Although it looks almost filigree compared to its larger V8 counterpart (compared to its mostly American relatives), the "small" Land Cruiser in its current 150 generation is one of the largest SUVs on the European market. And the word SUV still means just an SUV, not an SUV, crossover, or some other type of mixture of several vehicle categories. The height and width of the Land Cruiser 150 reaches almost 1,90 meters, and inside it can easily accommodate up to seven people, and if their number is no more than five, the luggage compartment also deserves to be called huge. The comfort equipment includes a wide range of "extra services", and especially the top-level Luxury Premium equipment even offers an entertainment system with screens for second-row passengers. The conservative style of the interior layout has not changed much, the main novelty is the new control devices for various modes of the Multi-terrain Select and Crawl Control systems. By the way, this improvement will be appreciated by people who have had contact with the current version of the model, since it has the logic of controlling these extremely valuable functions in themselves for driving on difficult terrain, designed in such a way that it would probably seem completely understandable only to its creators .
On the outside, the refreshing model can be recognized primarily by the redesigned radiator grille with an even more pronounced chrome decor, as well as by the new headlamps with characteristic curved LED daytime running lights.
Permeability above all
In terms of off-road performance, there are no major changes - but they are not necessary, as the Land Cruiser 150 has a permanent dual transmission with a Torsen 2 type limited slip center differential, which allows transmissions to be locked with a torque ratio of both axles of 50:50, locking the rear differential, step-down transmission mode, a system for changing the settings of the main systems in the car depending on the terrain and hill crawl technology: the Japanese SUV is more seriously equipped for off-road tasks At least 95 percent of the market demand for off-road talent models. Among the new offerings of the model is the ability to display the lateral tilt and the angle of rotation of the front wheels. It is an undeniable fact that this car can go through places where few civilian models would have survived, and this is perhaps the most valuable argument in favor of the "small cruiser".
Usually, as you would expect, a tall and heavy mastodon prefers a relaxed ride and definitely does not predispose to a sporty driving style. Activating the sport mode of the shock absorbers very effectively solves the problem of lateral body vibration. Driving comfort is generally pleasant, but the lack of clear steering feedback and erratic behavior when changing directions requires increased concentration on the driver's side, especially in high cornering areas.
Unlike the larger Land Cruiser V8, whose powertrain is definitely of the highest class of engine design, the 150 is powered by a four-cylinder that feels right at home in a working model like the Hilux, but in a heavy and luxurious SUV. this caliber seems out of place. Three-liter engine with 190 hp. and 420 Nm pulls confidently enough, but definitely cannot boast of subtle manners. In addition, sometimes the engine is significantly hampered by the large weight of the car, because of which the five-speed automatic often "squeezes" its gears. This, in turn, impairs dynamics, and fuel consumption is easily reduced to values of about 13 liters per 100 kilometers or more. For true hardcore SUV aficionados, these drawbacks are unlikely to be a problem, but for those looking for the comfort, dynamism and economy of a modern high-end SUV model, the Land Cruiser 150 is unlikely to be the best choice.
Text: Bozhan Boshnakov
Conclusion
Toyota Land Cruiser 150
The Toyota Land Cruiser 150 continues to be a true institution in the off-road world in terms of off-road capability and ability to handle challenging off-road situations. The extravagant comfort equipment makes it suitable for long journeys. However, in normal day-to-day use on tarmac, the handling is a bit hesitant and the engine doesn't quite live up to the ambitions of the model - the mannerisms and fuel consumption of the four-cylinder unit are no longer up to date.
